Wilted Efflorescence

*From Ch. 1*
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"You can do it Sakura, I believe in you. I believe you can change what has happened. What happened to the fierce pink-haired girl with the monstrous strength who decided never to give up? The one who trained under Baa-chan, who faced down an S-ranked criminal and walked away? Who healed hundreds of people, almost overdosing on soldier pills to keep on going?"

"Hah! Baka. What happened to her?! Hahaha! She watched as her shishou choked to death on blood and aged before her eyes.

She watched her sensei as he was impaled by living wood and his head then severed from his body.

She watched as the boy she once loved died of blood loss and chakra exhaustion.

And now? Now she's watching her best friend, all cut up and bleeding everywhere, slowly dying while she can do nothing, because she has no strength left and he can't even heal himself anymore.

All of their blood is on my hands. My clothing stained a muddy brown in it.

Shikamaru is catatonic. If he went back, I don't think he would live through it.

I don't even want to live anymore Naruto.

I don't want to live."
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Efflorescence: The state or period of flowering, an example or result of growth and development. She lost everyone, and nothing would be the same. They convinced her to go back. To change things. But how could she, when all she knew was lost? She was alone in her burden. A burden to save them all, wilted, and washed in the blood of her loved ones.

Rated: M